John lyall



Patented Feh. "2|, I899.

No. 6I9,972.

J. LYALL.

STEERING MECHANISM.

(Application filed on. a, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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NITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN LYALL, OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

STEERING MECHANISM.

SIECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,972, dated February21, 1899.

Application filed October 5, 1898. Serial No. 692,736. (No model.)

I of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland,

and a resident of Glasgow, Scotland, have invented certain Improvementsin SteeringMachinery, (for which I have applied for British Patent No.6,643, dated March 19, 1898,) of' which the following is aspecification.

In steering machinery of the kind to which my invention relates thecross-head or quadrant on the rudder-stock has connected to each side ofit one end of a rod, pins in the other end of which rods simply slidebackward and forward in fixed guides when the steam steering machineryis in use; but in the event of the breaking of the chains or equivalentconnecting the steering-gear to the quadrant on the rudder-stock or fromother cause the hand steering machinery has to be brought into'use, thepins onthe outer ends of the connecting-rods are transferred from thegrooves, and the rods are connected to the usual internally-screwedblocks on the right-hand andleft-hand screw-shaft of the handsteering-gear, so as to bring this gear into use. The performance ofthis operation is often considerably difficult, and considerable damagemay be done owing to the uncontrolled and usually violent movements ofthe rudder at the time.

My improvements insure that the rudder is under control in allcircumstances and that the change from steam to hand steering can bespeedily effected at any time.

In carrying out my invention the pins on the ends of the connecting rodsor links are each connected to a piston-rod of a piston working in acylinder filled with water, oil, or other suitable liquid. Pipes fittedwith stop-cocks connect the ends of the cylinders, the arrangementconstituting a simple and reliable brake or looking apparatus, wherebythe rudder is entirely under control and the pins andconnecting-rods-can be transferred and connected separately one afterthe other to the hand steering gear and that gear brought into operationwhen required with the utmost despatch and without the possibilityofdamage.

Figure 1 on the accompanying sheet of drawings is a plan of steeringmachinery as made with my improvements, Fig. 2 being a side elevation ofthe same.

As shown in the drawings, the cross-head A on the rudder-stock B hasconnected to each side of it one end of a rod or link 0 0 pins D D inthe other end of which rods, instead of being allowed to slide ingrooves when the hand-gear is disconnected and the steam-gear is inoperation, as in machinery of this kind as hitherto constructed, aremade capable of being connected to piston-rods E E formed with eyes toreceive the pins and fixed to pistons working in cylinders G G filledwith water, oil, or other suitable liquid. The two cylinders G G havetheir ends connected by external pipes H H fitted with stop-cooks J .1",which can be actuated by a handle K, the pipes being of such a diameterthat the liquid can be forced by the to-and-fro movement of the pistonsfrom either end of one cylinder to the corresponding end of the othercylinder at a slow rate suitable for the desired movement of the rudderby the steam steeringgear, (not shown,) but which acts through chains orequivalents on the quad rant L on the rudder-stock B. of a breakdown ofthe steam steering-gear taking place the comparatively slow movement ofthe liquid from one cylinder to the other through the connecting-pipes HH acts as a bufier or brake and prevents the rudder being violentlymoved from side to side and doing damage. The stop-cocks J J on theexternal connecting-pipes H H between each cylinder G G are then shut assoon as possible, so as to entirely stop the flow of the liquid betweenthe cylinders, and this prac- In the event tically stops all movement ofthe rudder. The

pins D D and connecting-rods C C can then be transferred separately oneafter the other from their connection with the piston-rods E E andconnected to the usual internally screwed blocks M M on the right-handand left-hand screw-spindle N of the hand steering-gear, which, asshown, is of an ordinary type. This gear can thus be brought intooperation when required with the utmost despatch and without thepossibility of damage.

What I claim as my invention is- 10 nccted When detached from the blocksof the hand steering-gear, substantially as and for the purposes hereinset forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN LYALL.

Vitnesses:

EDMUND IIUNT, DAVID FERGUSON.

